Implantable medical device antenna

Abstract

This disclosure is directed to a three-dimensional antenna that may be used for an implantable medical device (IMD). The antenna includes a first antenna portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a first plane. The antenna further includes a second antenna portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane. The antenna further includes a third antenna portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a third plane. The plurality of segments of the third portion are coupled between segments of the first and second portions. The third plane is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 a telemetry module; and 
 an antenna coupled to the telemetry module, the antenna comprising:
 a first antenna portion comprising a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a first plane; 
 a second antenna portion comprising a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a second plane; and 
 a third antenna portion comprising a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a third plane, wherein the plurality of segments of the third antenna portion are coupled between segments of the first and second antenna portions, and wherein the third plane is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane, 
 wherein at least one of the first and second antenna portions comprises an antenna loading structure and a coupling structure configured to electrically connect the antenna to the telemetry module, wherein the antenna loading structure has at least one dimension substantially greater than a corresponding dimension of the plurality of segments of the first and second antenna portions, and wherein the antenna loading structure is arranged toward an end of the antenna not electrically connected to the telemetry module and the coupling structure is arranged toward an end of the antenna opposite the antenna loading structure. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna is disposed within a header portion of an implantable medical device (IMD). 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the header portion of the device includes at least first, second, and third inner surfaces, wherein the first inner surface is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second inner surface, and wherein the third inner surface is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second inner surface; and
 wherein the antenna is disposed within the header portion such that the first antenna portion is arranged substantially parallel to the first inner surface, the second antenna portion is arranged substantially parallel to the third inner surface, and wherein the third antenna portion is arranged substantially parallel to the second inner surface. 
 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first, second and third antenna portions are each arranged substantially conformal to at least one of the first, second, and third inner surfaces of the header portion. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 3 , wherein an outer surface area of the first, second, and third antenna portions each comprises a substantially similar shape to at least one of the first, second, and third inner surfaces of the header portion of the IMD. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a first segment;
 a second segment integral to the first segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the first segment; 
 a third segment integral to the second segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the first and second segment; 
 a fourth segment integral to the third segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the third segment and substantially parallel to the second segment; and 
 a fifth segment integral to the fourth segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the fourth segment and parallel to the first segment, 
 wherein the first antenna portion comprises the second, third, and fourth segments; and 
 wherein the third antenna portion comprises the first and fifth segments. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth segments form a first meandering section of the antenna, and further comprising:
 at least one second meandering section of the antenna. 
 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a sixth segment integral to the fifth segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the fifth segment and substantially parallel to the fourth segment, 
 wherein the second antenna portion comprises the sixth segment. 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments of the first and second antenna portions are substantially straight. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments of the first and second antenna portions include at least on arcuate section. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments of the first and second antenna portions have a length substantially greater than a corresponding length of the plurality of segments of the third antenna portion. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of segments of the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion have a length 2-3 times greater than the corresponding length of the plurality of segments of the third antenna portion. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises an implantable medical device. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a communication module. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna sequentially:
 traverses, via a first one of the plurality of segments of the first antenna portion, the first plane in a first direction; 
 traverses, via a first one of the plurality of segments of the third antenna portion, the third plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane in a second direction; 
 traverses, via a first one of the plurality of segments of the second antenna portion, the second plane substantially perpendicular to the third plane and parallel to the first plane in a third direction substantially opposite the first direction; 
 traverses the second plane in a fourth direction substantially perpendicular to the first, second, and third directions; 
 traverses, via a second one of the plurality of segments of the second antenna portion, the second plane in the first direction; 
 traverses, via a second one of the plurality of segments of the third antenna portion, the third plane in a fifth direction substantially opposite the second direction; 
 traverses, via a second one of the plurality of segments of the first antenna portion, the first plane in the third direction; and 
 traverses the first plane in the fourth direction substantially perpendicular to the first, second, and third directions. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the antenna loading structure is formed of one of the first antenna portions, one of the second antenna portions, and one of the third antenna portions. 
     
     
       17. An antenna comprising:
 a first antenna portion comprising a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a first plane; 
 a second antenna portion comprising a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a second plane; and 
 a third antenna portion comprising a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a third plane, wherein the plurality of segments of the third antenna portion are coupled between segments of the first and second antenna portions, and wherein the third plane is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane, 
 wherein at least one of the first and second antenna portions comprises an antenna loading structure and a coupling structure configured to electrically connect the antenna to one or more electrical components, wherein the antenna loading structure has at least one dimension substantially greater than a corresponding dimension of the plurality of segments of the first and second antenna portions, and wherein the antenna loading structure is arranged toward an end of the antenna not electrically connected to the one or more electrical components and the coupling structure is arranged toward an end of the antenna opposite the antenna loading structure. 
 
     
     
       18. The antenna of  claim 17 , wherein the antenna comprises a first segment;
 a second segment integral to the first segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the first segment; 
 a third segment integral to the second segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the first and second segment; 
 a fourth segment integral to the third segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the third segment and substantially parallel to the second segment; and 
 a fifth segment integral to the fourth segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the fourth segment and parallel to the first segment, 
 wherein the first antenna portion comprises the second, third, and fourth segments; and 
 wherein the third antenna portion comprises the first and fifth segments. 
 
     
     
       19. The antenna of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a sixth segment integral to the fifth segment and arranged substantially perpendicular to the fifth segment and substantially parallel to the fourth segment, 
 wherein the second antenna portion comprises the sixth segment. 
 
     
     
       20. A method of forming a three-dimensional antenna, comprising:
 forming, from a substrate, a one-dimensional serpentine structure that comprises a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a plane; and 
 forming, from the one-dimensional serpentine structure, a three-dimensional antenna that includes a first portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a first plane, a second portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a second plane, and a third portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a third plane, wherein the plurality of segments of the third portion are coupled between segments of the first and second portions, and wherein the third plane is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane, 
 wherein at least one of the first and second antenna portions comprises an antenna loading structure and a coupling structure configured to electrically connect the antenna to one or more electrical components, wherein the antenna loading structure has at least one dimension substantially greater than a corresponding dimension of the plurality of segments of the first and second antenna portions, and wherein the antenna loading structure is arranged toward an end of the antenna not electrically connected to the one or more electrical components and the coupling structure is arranged toward an end of the antenna opposite the antenna loading structure. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the third plane corresponds to the plane in which the plurality of segments of the one-dimensional serpentine structure are arranged. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein forming, from the 1D serpentine structure, a three-dimensional antenna comprises:
 bending the 1D serpentine structure at at least two positions along the plurality of segments horizontally arranged in a plane. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 bending the 1D serpentine at the at least two position selected based on a desired performance characteristic of the three-dimensional antenna. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising bending the 1D serpentine at the at least two positions selected based on a shape of the three-dimensional antenna. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 coupling the three-dimensional antenna to telemetry circuitry of an implantable medical device (IMD) to facilitate communications of the IMD, wherein the one or more electrical components comprise the telemetry circuitry.